In a vote held on 10 February 2026, Members of the European Parliament approved two inter-linked regulations that will fundamentally reshape how Belgium – and every other EU member state – processes asylum claims. The first establishes the EU’s inaugural list of “safe countries of origin”. Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia are among the nations now presumed to offer adequate human-rights protection. A companion text sets criteria for designating a “safe third country”, enabling authorities to redirect asylum seekers to nations they merely transited en route to Europe.(apnews.com)
For Belgium’s Immigration Office, which handled more than 39,000 protection claims last year, the change is seismic. Applications lodged by nationals of a listed “safe” country may be channelled into accelerated procedures lasting as little as ten days, drastically reducing the time applicants can remain in Belgium while their files are examined. The new framework also gives Belgium legal grounds to deny or curtail reception benefits for claimants who could have sought asylum elsewhere.(apnews.com)
For individuals and employers now wondering how best to navigate Belgium’s tougher entry landscape, VisaHQ provides step-by-step assistance with everything from standard Schengen visas to the long-stay D permits that allow staff to bypass the accelerated asylum track altogether. Their dedicated Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers real-time requirement checks, online application tools and expert support, making it easier to stay compliant amid rapidly changing rules.
![EU Parliament Fast-Tracks 'Safe Country' Rules, Paving Way for Faster Deportations from Belgium]()
Supporters inside the Belgian government argue that streamlined screening will relieve chronic pressure on the country’s Fedasil reception network, where occupancy frequently exceeds 90 % of capacity. They also contend that shorter procedures deter secondary movement within the EU and free up resources for people with genuine protection needs. The liberal MR party has already welcomed the vote, calling it “a badly needed tool for restoring credibility to Europe’s asylum system”.
Rights groups and several francophone parties, however, warn that the concept of “safety” is politically elastic. Critics point out that some listed countries criminalise homosexuality or face periodic unrest, raising the spectre of wrongful returns. NGOs operating in Brussels worry that Belgium’s courts will be flooded with last-minute appeals, potentially offsetting any administrative gains.
The regulations enter into force in June 2026, leaving Belgian ministries less than four months to update national legislation, train case officers and adapt IT systems. Global-mobility managers should prepare employees for stricter documentation checks, especially those holding passports from newly listed “safe” nations. Employers may wish to advise affected staff to apply early for work permits or corporate transfers that confer long-stay D-visa status, thereby sidestepping the short-stay asylum channel entirely.
For Belgium’s Immigration Office, which handled more than 39,000 protection claims last year, the change is seismic. Applications lodged by nationals of a listed “safe” country may be channelled into accelerated procedures lasting as little as ten days, drastically reducing the time applicants can remain in Belgium while their files are examined. The new framework also gives Belgium legal grounds to deny or curtail reception benefits for claimants who could have sought asylum elsewhere.(apnews.com)
For individuals and employers now wondering how best to navigate Belgium’s tougher entry landscape, VisaHQ provides step-by-step assistance with everything from standard Schengen visas to the long-stay D permits that allow staff to bypass the accelerated asylum track altogether. Their dedicated Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers real-time requirement checks, online application tools and expert support, making it easier to stay compliant amid rapidly changing rules.
Supporters inside the Belgian government argue that streamlined screening will relieve chronic pressure on the country’s Fedasil reception network, where occupancy frequently exceeds 90 % of capacity. They also contend that shorter procedures deter secondary movement within the EU and free up resources for people with genuine protection needs. The liberal MR party has already welcomed the vote, calling it “a badly needed tool for restoring credibility to Europe’s asylum system”.
Rights groups and several francophone parties, however, warn that the concept of “safety” is politically elastic. Critics point out that some listed countries criminalise homosexuality or face periodic unrest, raising the spectre of wrongful returns. NGOs operating in Brussels worry that Belgium’s courts will be flooded with last-minute appeals, potentially offsetting any administrative gains.
The regulations enter into force in June 2026, leaving Belgian ministries less than four months to update national legislation, train case officers and adapt IT systems. Global-mobility managers should prepare employees for stricter documentation checks, especially those holding passports from newly listed “safe” nations. Employers may wish to advise affected staff to apply early for work permits or corporate transfers that confer long-stay D-visa status, thereby sidestepping the short-stay asylum channel entirely.
